"Not a doubt of it," Dave assented. "We'll signal the other fellows, and then get him at our leisure."
"Unless there are other openings to this cave," Dick hinted.
"That's so! The fellow may be a quarter of a mile away from here already," Darrin quivered. "Let's not lose any time. I'll go in there first."
Dave was on his knees, quivering with eagerness, dominated by purpose, when Dick grabbed him, hauling him back.
"Let me alone," growled Dave. "Don't interfere with me!"
"But you don't know what you might run into in there, Darry," Prescott insisted firmly. "For one thing, you have no idea how many villains may have their secret home in there."
"Then, what are you going to do?" Darry demanded, looking up.
"I'm going to watch, right here, while you go forward and find Tom and Dan. Bring them here, and then we'll decide what ought to be done."
"That's rather slow," hot-headed Darry objected.
"It is, and a heap safer," Dick contended. "Hot-foot it after
Tom and Dan. I'll stay right here and see to it that the mouth
of the cave doesn't run away. Start—-at once, Darry, please!
Don't let us waste time."